My time in Mobile was short lived, but I am new- listening, breathing in the experiences of a dwindling youth. Those people got to me in ways I didn't think were possible and I have come back with many new ideas. My family and new friends have shown and taught me things that I don't think they realized they did, which puts a smile on my face and makes me look at them with new eyes. I have also discovered some things on my own, due to excessive travel hours that were spent- for the most part- alone. 1) I will NOT feel guilty for writing instead of doing the dishes. NOT. EVER. AGAIN. They can wait till later and a story sometimes can't. AND I will not let other people make me feel guilty about writing, because they think it's unimportant- it is the most important thing in my life right now, besides family and friends. 2) Eat, Pray, Love might as well be my new favorite book! And, if you haven't had the chance to read it- do so right now. It will, hopefully, make you re-evaluate parts of your life and want to seek enlightenment. 3) I'm writing a memoir of those experiences and where I'm at right now to reflect upon and help me make one of the biggest decisions I'm probably going to make right now- which path to walk down and how those people I met along the way have helped weave part of that decision and bring it into clear light. 4) I have come to accept the things I can't change- or at least try really hard to- and change the things I can. 5) Strangers really are my best friends. I tell them things I can't tell my family and they open welcoming arms- sometimes. 6) I have come to realize that my environment is crazy and I need to tone it down a lot. MORE Yoga and meditation, less screamo and headbanging. 7) Make more time for fun and dancing. I miss those- a lot. These are things I will work on and do and I will wait until July 7th when my baby sister is back home. Until then, I will recite this credo every night (which I'm thinking about having tattooed on my back with a pink lotus blossom which I took a picture of): "In the end these things matter most: How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?" — Siddhārtha Gautama More of this: